April 18, 2013

International CU Regulators’ Network Issues Governance Best Practices

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The International Credit Union Regulators' Network (ICURN) this week issued a new guiding principles document entitled Enhancing Governance of Cooperative Financial Institutions at the ICURN Annual Conference in San Diego, California, United States. The ICURN guidance incorporates 17 elements considered desirable in facilitating effective governance of cooperative financial institutions, including credit unions and savings and credit cooperative organizations.

These elements include:

Directors' responsibilities and minimum qualifications

Oversight of senior management

Senior managers' roles in maintaining safe and sound institutions

Effective internal controls

Compensation

Transparency and disclosure to members

The role of regulators in monitoring cooperatives' corporate governance and taking remedial action when appropriate

"Cooperative financial institution governance is in many respects the most important line of defense in terms of maintaining safety and soundness, and cooperative financial institutions globally face similar governance challenges," said Andy Poprawa, ICURN chairman and CEO of the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario, Canada. "These new guiding principles will help many institutions and their boards understand better their responsibilities and give a road map on how to manage an institution so that it serves its members' needs to the greatest extent possible."

At this year's ICURN Annual Conference, 48 regulators from 23 countries in Africa, Asia, North America, Latin America, Caribbean, Europe and Oceania participated. National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) and the California Department of Financial Institutions hosted the conference.

ICURN is an independent international network of cooperative financial institutions regulators that promotes the guidance given by the leaders of the Group of 20 nations for greater international coordination among financial services regulators. ICURN facilitates the sharing of information and positions of common interest among financial cooperatives, initiates research on financial cooperatives and their oversight, identifies best practices and provides direct access to an exclusive forum for thought leaders worldwide on issues critical to sound cooperative financial institutions regulation. World Council of Credit Unions serves as the ICURN secretariat.